Vivid Sydney 2022: The Best Ways to Click the Festival

It’s that time of the year again! Vivid Sydney has kicked off after a long time and what a few couple of nights we have had so far! The heartwarming opening ceremony, the largest ever drone show over the harbour, the spectacular firework show across the Harbour Bridge, the excitement is real!

I remember when I first attended the festival back in 2014, I never got to click any awesome photos of the festival and the photos I did manage to get were all over the place. But over the years I have mastered almost everything about the festival, including the best spots, angles and frames. So here’s a guide that hopefully helps you capture the city’s soul from the best of vantage points!

VIVID SYDNEY CRUISE

The best and easiest way to be in the mix of Sydney’s vivid lights is to take to the waters. This is also the ideal option to enjoy the festivities with your family as the entire Central Business District (CBD) will be swarming with festival-goers. From the decks of popular vessels you get to enjoy prime views of all the scenic vista happening around the harbour including the Lighting of The Sails, the Harbour Bridge, the grinning moonface of the Luna Park, glimpses of Circular Quay, Barangaroo, The Rocks and more! The cruises become your best option as they traverse around the harbour at a slower pace, letting you capture more stable photos of the festival. You can also enjoy the luxury of going past the light installations more than once! So stay on the radar for the best Vivid Cruise Deals and set your socials on fire!

POV FROM THE SKIES

The best spectators of the festival are the seagulls and the rainbow lorikeets. They get to enjoy the festival from the best vantage point ever–the skies! But what if I told you, you can beat them at their own game and soar even higher?! In what will be a whole different experience, you'd be flying around the city skyline capturing everything from Darling Harbour to Opera House and beyond! You will be hovering above silently, aiming down with the best set of lenses ( Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with Gyro control) and shooting the Harbour Bridge as it changes from red, blue to green, the fireworks going off in the distance and the Opera House coming to life with Dreamtime artworks! Even the doors are removed to ensure that nothing gets in the way between you and the gram’ worthy shot!

PULL UP TO THE ROCKS

The Rocks have some of the best seats in the town to get a good look at the festival! The top diners and pubs in the region will not only be hosting a series of Vivid-themed events and experiences, but also have some great angles of the festival! For breathtaking views of the illuminated harbour, head to the famous rooftop of Blue Bar on 36 and enjoy their ultimate Vivid Sydney cocktails. The waterfront restaurant 6Head will be hosting a multi-sensory dining event with three course dinner along with unlimited drinks!

Sydney also has incredible sky-high bars, perfect to get those exquisite shots of the festivities! Bar 83 inside Sydney Tower will give you unrivalled 360° visuals, while O Bar and Dining will reward you with an exclusive view of the Central Business District!

PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

If you're new to the city and would like a professional photographer to accompany you as a guide and show you around, this is your best option. In this three-hour photography tour, an award winning photographer will lead your way to shoot some epic installations, along a bespoke circuit. You will also learn new techniques and tricks to capture the best photos under the night condition!